President Trump calls for an end to DEI programs
President Donald Trump is calling for an end to federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Fox – Seattle
Has the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “woke”?
The consumer survey focuses on the powerful business lobby’s statements on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as DEI efforts that the Chamber of Commerce abandoned after the November presidential election, claiming it was defending “woke political goals, not consumers.”
The nonprofit, which advocates for free markets and corporate responsibility, pointed to a chamber of commerce statement on its website that said “diversity is America’s strength” and makes our economy “the most vibrant and dynamic in history.”
“When companies recognize and embrace diverse perspectives, they are better able to create value, serve customers, support employees, and solve problems,” the website states. “By providing opportunities for everyone, businesses help improve communities and strengthen the health, prosperity, and competitiveness of nations and societies.”
The Chamber of Commerce, one of the nation’s largest corporate lobbying groups, accused Consumers Research of dredging DEI efforts amid a fight over litigation reform.
At issue is whether the Chamber supports the Litigation Transparency Act of 2025, which would require more disclosure about who is funding lawsuits. Some conservative groups oppose the bill, saying it could make it difficult for the public to hold “woke” companies accountable.
“Make no mistake, this attack has nothing to do with policy and everything to do with the greed of trial lawyers,” Stephen Wagspack, director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Law Reform Institute, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Days after George Floyd’s murder, the Chamber of Commerce launched a national effort to address America’s deep racial divide. The message at the time was that “equality of opportunity” is everyone’s challenge.
“Fundamentally, we believe that every American should have the opportunity to succeed, stand up for themselves and live the American Dream. Today, we know that is not the case,” then-CEO Tom Donahue told attendees at a town hall in June 2020, calling for breaking down barriers for Black Americans and other people of color.
The high-profile campaign died just before President Donald Trump took office in January. Web pages promoting equal opportunity initiatives began redirecting to the chamber’s home page.
The retreat showed how dramatically corporate America has changed in less than five years, Daniel Kinderman, a political science professor at the University of Delaware who studied the effort, told USA TODAY in February.
